Hame tug



Sept. 23. 1924; 1,509,104

A. L.. BOWLEN HAME TUG Filed Nov. 2'7v i923 Patented Sept. 23, 1924.

UNITED STATES A 1,509,704 PATENT OFFICE.

ALLEN L. BOWLEN, or VERSAILLES', MISSOURI.

HAME TUG.

- Application filed November 27, 1923. Serial No. 677,314.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLEN L.'BowLnN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Versailles, in the county of Morgan and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hame Tugs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to harness particularly to the connection of the-tugs with the harness and has for its object the provision of a novel arrangement whereby the line of draft may be changed for varying the point of pull on the horses shoulder so that the horse may be relieved of strain at a point which has become sore.

Another object is the provision of an arrangement of this character in which the construction is such and the draft so arranged that the point of pull will be located at a higher plane than is ordinarily the case so as to avoid bringing pressure upon the windpipe of the horse and interferring with its breathing.

Another object is the provision of a peculiar connection of the trace with the hame tugs whereby proper flexibility will be insured so that the parts will accommodate themselves to existing conditions.

An additional object is the provision of an arrangement of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, easy to apply, eflicient and durable in service and a general improvement in the art.

IVith the above and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illus trated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a horse equipped with harness embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one hame member showing fragments of the tugs connected therewith,

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the connection between the hame tugs and the trace,

Figure 1 is a horizontal section therethrough on the line 44 of Figure. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the letter A represents the collar of a horse and B represents the hames which are mounted on the collar in the usual manner and which are provided near their upper ends with the adjustable means shown at C for connecting the hames above the collar.

The hames also carry line guides D and a staple E which is provided for the attachment of the ordinary tug which is replaced by my device.

In carrying out my invention I provide a tug 10 which is equipped at one end with a connector 11 permanently engaged with the staple E. Upon the upper portion of the hame I provide aneye or staple 12 with which is permanently connected a swivel 13 at one end of a chain 14 consisting of any desired number of links. I also make use of a second tug 15 located above the first and carrying at one end a hook 16 engageable within any desired one of the links in the chain 14:.

I provide a peculiar means for connecting both of the tugs with the trace F and this means consists of a pair of U-shaped yokes 17 through the bight portions of which extends a bolt 18 about the intermediate portion of which is engaged an eye G on the forward end of the trace, this eye being located between the two yokes. The bolt 18 terminates in loops 19 and 20, the former of which is for attachment of the back band and the latter of which is intended for connection with the belly band of the harness for preventing the connection of the tugs with the traces from dropping down or becoming otherwise displaced. Pivoted at 21 within the yokes 17 are loop like connectors 22 engaged within terminal loops 23 carried by the rear ends of the tugs 10 and 15.

In the use of the device it is evident that the provision of the two tugs is highly important inasmuch as the triangular arrangement will prevent accidental variation in the line of draft or point of pull. Furthermore the upper tug operates to equalize the pull ing strain so that it will be distributed throughout the collar instead of merely'at the lower point, thereby preventing any tendency to shut off the wind of the horse. \Vhen in the course of time it might occur that the shoulder of the horse becomes sore at any certain point, it is a simple matter to remove the hook 16 from the link engaged thereby and engage it Within a different link whereby to change the line of draft and point of pull so that the horse will be relieved. However as a matter of fact, the development of soreness is unlikely owing to the substantially uniform distribution of the pulling strain.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a very simply constructed and. inexpensive hame tug which will be most efficient for the purpose specified and which should recommend itself not only in point of durability and efiiciency but also for humanitarian reasons.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my-invention it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invelr tion or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim: i

1. In a harness construction, a hame, a tug connected with the upper portion of the hame, a second tug having one end detachably connectible with a selected link of the chain, and means connecting the rear ends of both tugs and providing means for attachment of a trace.

2. In a device of the character described including a heme, converging tugs connected therewith, and a trace, means for connecting the tugs with the trace comprising a pair of U-shaped yokes, a pivot bolt extending through the yokes and receiving between them an eye at the forward end of the trace, the bolt being provided with means for connection with a back band and belly hand. and loops pivotally connected with the yokes and with the converging ends of the tugs.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ALLEN L. BOWLEN 

